Final Exempted Players Named for U.S. Open


The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced that one additional player has earned a full exemption into the 2013 U.S. Open, which starts Thursday at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., bringing the number of fully exempt players to 76. In addition, five alternates from sectional qualifying were added to complete the 156-player field.

Kyle Stanley earned an exemption based on the current Official World Golf Ranking. Stanley, who is ranked No. 60, is making his fourth U.S. Open appearance. The 25-year-old from Gig Harbor, Wash., recorded his best Open finish in 2009 when he tied for 53rd at Bethpage. Stanley qualified for the 2005 U.S. Amateur at Merion and was a member of the 2007 USA Walker Cup Team.

The USGA held six spots in the field for players who could potentially qualify by being in the current top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Since Stanley was the only player to earn an exemption, five alternates from sectional qualifying made the field. They are Mike Weir, Harold Varner III, Ryan Palmer, Ryan Yip and Rikard Karlberg.

Weir, who will play in his 13th U.S. Open, was the first alternate from the Columbus, Ohio, sectional. He made an 18-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole in qualifying to earn the spot. Weir's best finish in an Open was in 2003 when he tied for third at Olympia Fields. Varner III was the first alternate from the Rockville, Md., sectional. He currently plays on the eGolf Tour and was the 2012 Conference USA Golfer of the Year at East Carolina University. Varner is making his first Open appearance.

Ryan Palmer was the first alternate from the Dallas sectional. He will play in his fourth U.S. Open. His best finish was a tie for 11th at Congressional Country Club in 2011. Ryan Yip was the first alternate from the Springfield, Ohio, sectional. He is playing in his first Open. Yip advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2005 U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club.

Karlberg was the first alternate from the England sectional. A 26-year-old from Sweden, Karlberg made his lone U.S. Open appearance in 2010 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. He has won twice on the Asian Tour.

There were 111 U.S. Open local qualifying sites that led to 13 sectionals, including international sites in Japan and England on May 27. Sectional qualifying in the United States took place at 11 sites on June 3.

A list of the 76 golfers fully exempt into the 2013 U.S. Open is below.

Keegan Bradley
Angel Cabrera
Michael Campbell
Kevin Chappell
K.J. Choi
Stewart Cink
Tim Clark
Darren Clarke
George Coetzee
Nicolas Colsaerts
Jason Day
Luke Donald
Jamie Donaldson
Jason Dufner
Ernie Els
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
Rickie Fowler
a-Steven Fox
Jim Furyk
Sergio Garcia
Robert Garrigus
Lucas Glover
Branden Grace
Bill Haas
Peter Hanson
Padraig Harrington
Russell Henley
Billy Horschel
John Huh
Fredrik Jacobson
Thongchai Jaidee
Dustin Johnson
Zach Johnson
Martin Kaymer
Matt Kuchar
Martin Laird
Paul Lawrie
Marc Leishman
Hunter Mahan
Matteo Manassero
Graeme McDowell
Rory McIlroy
Phil Mickelson
Francesco Molinari
Ryan Moore
Geoff Ogilvy
Thorbjorn Olesen
Louis Oosthuizen
John Peterson
Carl Pettersson
Scott Piercy
D.A. Points
Ian Poulter
Justin Rose
Charl Schwartzel
Adam Scott
John Senden
Marcel Siem
Webb Simpson
Brandt Snedeker
Kyle Stanley
Henrik Stenson
Kevin Streelman
Steve Stricker
Michael Thompson
David Toms
Bo Van Pelt
Nick Watney
Bubba Watson
a-Michael Weaver
Boo Weekley
Lee Westwood
a-Chris Williams
Casey Wittenberg
Tiger Woods
Y.E. Yang

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The above report is courtesy of the USGA. For more information, visit www.usga.org. For a complete list of the field and live updates of the U.S. Open at Merion, visit http://www.majorschampionships.com/us-open.html.